It’s amazing what (sun)light can do for you. We’re talking the magical Vitamin D, said to boost happiness levels, build stronger bones and lower blood pressure. Sunlight can also heal the skin… and generously leave it with little brown gifts called pigmentation. Then there’s the other kind of light called IPL (Intense Pulsed Light), which can also generously lighten the damage dealt. That’s our ZapZapTM for you.

ZapZapTM — An IPL Fairy Tale for the Skin?

The latest introduction to the family of existing treatments, the ZapZapTM series is a suite of IPL treatments targeted at pigmentations, wrinkled/lined skin, acne and acne marks.

IPL isn’t really new to us, but we’d recently given our equipment an overhaul and exchanged our existing Korean technology for the latest, most premium of non-medical grade Spanish Variable Pulse IPL machines that aestheticians are legally licensed to operate. Also, while most other IPL treatments only use blue or green light, our ZapZapTM equipment pairs blue with red light for accelerated recovery.

In other words:

– Better, faster results with even less to no downtime
– It’s good for more than just pigmentations — it’s also great for softening fine lines, heal acne and its marks, balancing excess sebum and brightening the skin
– Suitable for all skin types
– Doesn’t cause dryness to the skin — we promise

We don’t believe in shortcuts, but this is as close as it gets.

Good Things Come in Threes: ZitZapTM, ZapBrightTM and ZapGlowTM

Meet ZitZap™ — the new best friend that makes our signature QuintessentialTM extraction facial so much better. Designed to — well — zap zits, marks and bacteria away, remarkably enhancing skin’s healing after it’s been uncongested (did I just make that up?) to death.

Imagine this: Results so stark yet subtle, a phone camera can’t capture it… but your friends will definitely notice the lines that did a mysterious disappearing act! Designed to reduce fine lines, firm and brighten the skin, ZapGlow™ is an IPL treatment that’s perfect for anti-ageing concerns.

With Good Things Come Bad Things Like Nagging

We love the fast results ZapZapTM brings us and our clients, but as with all things, prevention is better than cure. While some skin problems are truly hereditary (and there’s nothing we can do about genes), we can mitigate/prevent them with these quick skincare tips:

Find yourself avoiding sleeveless cause of unsightly underarms? It is a common problem that many women faces, especially with excessive shaving over time, and a lack of care for your underarms.

To get rid of this problem, let us first get to the root of it and look at the common causes of dark underarms:

1. Shaving
When you shave with a razor, it results in stubbles which makes you look like you have dark underarms. Apart of that, shaving results in ingrown hair, which further worsens the appearance of dark armpits. Our recommendation is, try waxing or IPL hair removal instead.

2. Dead Skin Cells
Similar to our face, our underarms require exfoliation as well. You can scrub your underarms gently with loofahs or scrubs. Try to do it once or twice a week for best results 🙂

3. Excessive Use of Deodorants!
We understand the importance of deodorants, especially for hot climates which results in sweating and body odour that is a major turn off. However, many studies have found that the strong chemical ingredients used in some deodorants may lead to pigmentation and darker underarms. Our suggestion is, use deodorants designed for sensitive skin. They contain milder ingredients that will not be harmful to your underarm skin or cause unsightly pigmentation.

Other than switching to waxing or IPL hair removal, exfoliating regularly and opting for milder deodorants, we’re also sharing with you a few natural remedies you can use to get rid of darkened underarms:

Having acne or pigmentation problems? You might want to consider adding an Intense Pulse Light (IPL) treatment to your current facial treatment. Generally, IPL therapy serves as a good compliment to facial treatments as it speeds up the recovery process, which tends to produce better results as the IPL technology allows deeper penetration into the skin, rejuvenating and enhance renewal of collagen which helps in the absorption of products.

The IPL system releases yellow, green and red lights that are emitted in a series of short pulses. The yellow/green light destroys the bacteria which causes acne that thrives in our skin, while the red light directly targets the overactive sebaceous glands that cause outbreaks of pustules (pimples). The light conversion to heat is targeted accurately to the cells deep in the skin, initiating shrinkage of the inflamed sebaceous glands which helps to prevent over-production of excess sebum. Additionally, IPL treatment is effecting in correcting common skin pigmentation problems such as age spots, sun-induced freckles, and symptoms of rosacea, birthmarks, and unsightly veins, acne scarring and other blemishes.

IPL – Black Magic for Skin Rejuvenation

If you are looking for skin rejuvenation, consider the Black Magic™ IPL Treatment instead. Black Magic™ treatment does not target pigments, but aims to rejuvenate the skin instead, by tightening the pores and reducing sebum production. Black Magic™ treatment uses a proprietary formula created in Korea, known as The Photo Reborn Gel or Plasma Magic Gel. Unlike conventional IPL Gel, which has a clear colour, the Plasma Magic Gel is black.

Normal IPL treatment uses an IPL gel that helps prevent light from scattering during the treatment. During a normal IPL treatment, there may be some loss of energy during travelling of light when it’s penetrating into the skin. However, the formulated Plasma Magic Gel can greatly reduce the energy loss and better absorb the light for better results using less energy. Thus, the Black Magic treatment therefore works effectively by diminishing the look of pores and reduces oiliness of skin.

LED Light Therapy

An IPL session at Porcelain includes the use of LED lights to target various skin problems. The LED Light Therapy is a skin rejuvenation treatment that uses non-invasive, non-ablative Red Light Therapy & Blue Light Therapy, and Infrared Light treatment for anti-aging skincare, facial wrinkles, acne treatment, stretch marks and more. It is very common to see that red light therapy associated with anti-aging and blue light therapy to fight acne. The following light colours used in a typical LED Light Therapy treatment tell you the benefits associated with each colour:

Want a certain colour to zero in on your problems? A typical treatment at Porcelain will have our friendly therapists selecting the right combination of colours to cater to your unique skin type.

If you are currently undergoing facial treatment for acne or pigmentation, adding on IPL treatments will be a great compliment as technology enables deeper penetration of the products compared to normal facial treatments. For the treatment of problem skin, this means achieving expected results in a faster and more effective manner.

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Fruits have always been considered a rich source of fibre and vitamins. In fact, fruit packs are also used in high-end beauty salons. You can also reap the abundance of benefits they offer! Read on to find out which make the perfect fruits for skincare in your daily life.

Bananas

Credit: Mike Dorner

Bananas are extremely nourishing for the skin as they contain Vitamins B and C. It’s also a rich source of potassium, which helps to soften, tighten and tone the skin.

Apples

Apples make wonderful ingredients for skin toners, helping to tighten the skin and stimulate blood circulation. These also have anti-oxidant properties. Raw apple pulp or juice can be applied onto the skin daily. Apple cider vinegar has great benefits for the hair too, helping to restore the balance to the scalp and preventing scalp problems like dandruff.

Papayas

Credit: Charles Deluvio

Remove dead skin cells when you apply papaya to the face and body. They also help to lighten skin colour if used regularly over a period of time. Mix ripe papaya pulp directly on the face or mix it with other ingredients like oatmeal, curd and honey. The same mixture can be applied onto the body as well.

Mangos

Credit: Alexander Mils

Mangos are rich in Vitamins A and C, which help to tone and rejuvenate the skin. They can delay visible signs of ageing, and also soften the skin. Apply mango pulp to keep the skin soft and supple. Mangos are suited for all skin types. Being an anti-oxidant, it can reverse oxidation damage if used regularly.

Oranges

Credit: Jessica Lewis

Like lemons, oranges are also rich in Vitamin C. The pulp can be included in masks. Even their peels can be collected and dried in the sun, ground into a powder and added to face masks. Oranges have a cleansing and gradual skin lightening effect. Their juice can also be added to masks for the face and hands. In fact, raw orange and lemon peels can be rubbed on the nails to remove discolouration. Orange peels rubbed regularly on the hands can help to lighten skin colour and also tighten the skin.

Strawberries

Credit: Joanna Kosinska

Strawberries are powerful anti-oxidants and therefore help to prevent oxidation damage, which leads to ageing signs like lines, wrinkles, sagging skin, etc. In fact, they also strengthen supportive tissues and keep the skin youthful. These fruits are rich in Vitamin C and thus beneficial for the skin. Crush them and apply on the face as a fruit pack. Leave on for 20 minutes and then wash off with water. Try mixing them with other fruits and use this over time, e.g. lighten skin when you mix crushed strawberries with curd!

Grapefruit

Like other citrus fruits, the grapefruit also has a cleansing and toning effect. It is particularly good for oily and acne-prone skin. It reduces oiliness and helps tighten enlarged pores. Apply the fruit or juice onto the skin and wash off after 20 minutes.

Cherries

Credit: Joanna Kosinska

Cherries contain vitamins and minerals, which help to nourish the skin. They have anti-inflammatory effects and help to heal and soothe irritated skin. They also help in cases of sun-damage and exposure to UV rays.

Pomegranate

Credit: Jessica Lewis

Pomegranates offer excellent benefits for skin care, as it helps to moisturise the skin and is a powerful antioxidant. It helps to improve the skin’s ability to retain moisture too. These power fruits boost cell renewal, thus delaying the signs of ageing. Used regularly, it can lighten and brighten the skin.

Watermelons

Credit: Edceee

Watermelons help dry skin by sealing in moisture and keeping it hydrated and soothed. Applying watermelon pulp or juice helps to soften and smoothen the skin.

1. Anti-Aging is….

Achieving a balance within your skin between moisture and sebum level. It means maintaining a high level of collagen and elastin production, and low level of oxidation within the skin hence, reducing signs of aging.

2. How do I stop the clock?

Unfortunately, it is impossible to do so as chronological aging is part of life. We can prevent the signs of aging from showing by increasing our level of anti-oxidants to prevent free radical damages, stimulating collagen, elastin production and skin’s natural regenerating ability with technology such as Radio Frequency, Intense Pulsed Light, LED and reduce our sun exposure by applying sunscreen.

3. At what age should I start my anti-aging regime?

You should start your general skincare regime during puberty. Anti-aging should not be separated from your routine skincare regime. Revise your home care and professional treatments with your aesthetician or doctor every year to evaluate your changing needs. The skin begins to age around 25 to 30, however, many young skin display signs of premature aging due to improper care and lack of sun protection.

4. How do I prevent premature aging?

The number one cause of premature aging of the skin is caused by sun overexposure. It causes skin dehydration and discoloration of the skin’s pigment, which results in the formation of wrinkles and fine lines, freckles and other forms of pigments. We recommend that sunscreen to be applied daily prior to sun exposure, even when you are spending most of your time indoors. Next, frequent exfoliation of your skin can reduce dead skin cell buildup and stimulate cell regeneration.

That will help prevent and reduce existing signs of aging. Keeping your cells moist keep skin looking plump and firm. Use products such as Hyaluronic Acid to enable that and eat foods that are high in water content to keep your skin well hydrated at the cellular level.